How gorilla trekking is conducted in Uganda?
How gorilla trekking is conducted in Uganda? Gorilla trekking in Uganda involves trekking/hiking on steep, narrow footpaths or walking via undefined trails characterized by dense jungles with an experienced park ranger guide. With the park ranger guide, there can be a machete to help slash the path for visitors to navigate through.
Gorilla trekking in Uganda offers primate enthusiasts a lifetime opportunity to enjoy a face-to-face encounter with the massive silverback gorilla plus its members right in their natural setting. The actual trek with mountain gorillas marks that moment when you actively engage in the search for these apes, and when you finally come across them in the wild, your long-time imagination come to reality.
Gorilla trekking is the most famous safari activity in Uganda and embarking on it entirely involves exploring the behaviors of the rare mountain gorillas in the wild. This is the only adventure followed by a mountain gorilla habituation experience that allows you to soak yourself into the African jungles to search for a group of mountain gorillas.
Uganda gorilla trekking adventure takes a step-by-step process. They include choosing the destination, booking a gorilla safari, getting briefed on the actual day of visiting gorillas, packing right, reserving the lodges, knowing the ideal season or time to go gorilla trekking, preparing to keep fit, and more.
Steps/Tips on How Gorilla Trekking is Conducted in Uganda
The actual gorilla trek, how is it done? Here are useful steps not to miss!
Briefing first: Once you are certain about the destination to trek gorillas, you must travel to the park to engage in your adventure. At the destination, the briefing will be conducted first before you set foot into the jungles to look for gorillas.
The briefing will be done on gorilla trekking rules and regulations which include keeping a distance of 7-8 meters away from gorillas.
Note: Before you set off from your lodge/hotel to see gorillas, you should have chosen the region or sector to trek gorillas. This step is usually done early. When booking a gorilla permit, you book depending on the region or sector you desire to trek gorillas from.
The five regions to consider include 4 in Bwindi that is Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, and Buhoma. The fifth region is found in Mgahinga National Park that is Ntebeko.
At 8:00 am, the actual gorilla trek begins. Gorilla trekking in Uganda involves trekking to see the rare mountain gorillas in the natural environment. Uganda protects only the mountain gorillas, the sub-species of the Eastern gorillas.
In the wild with gorillas, respect for these apes should be given priority. This includes observing a distance of 8 meters away from them.
When you come across gorillas, the park authorities only allow you to enjoy a maximum of 1 (one) hour for photography and observing how these apes behave.
Allocation of gorilla families; all visitors will be first assigned to gorilla groups to trek. In each group, there are strictly 8 guests who are allowed to trek gorillas in one group in their natural setting.
Allocation of park rangers and guides. Visitors are accompanied by an experienced park ranger guide to go to explore gorillas from the region of their choice. Not only do park ranger guides provide safety, but also they are the ones who will explain every detail about mountain gorillas to visitors.
Respect the rules and regulations at all times: While in the jungles, always ensure that you observe the set regulations that the park official briefed you about. The park guide will also remind you about some of the rules and regulations.
Return from the jungle: After an hour of up close and personal encounter with a family of gorillas, the park ranger guide will again lead you back to where you started your trek from.
Gorilla trekking certificate upon returning: After the successful gorilla trek in Bwindi or Mgahinga, a gorilla certificate will be provided. This will be at the park offices and certificates will be issued by the park official.
Additional Tips
You must book a gorilla permit & gorilla tour
To conduct a gorilla trekking adventure, a gorilla permit or gorilla tour should have been booked. The gorilla tours confirm the initial steps for anyone who wants to engage in a gorilla trekking experience in Uganda. Planning and booking permits plus a gorilla tour is easier and safer with Maranatha Tours and Travel (info@adventureugandasafaris.com).
A single Uganda gorilla permit costs USD 800 per person (for foreign nonresidents), USD 700 per visitor (foreign residents), Ugandans + other East African Community citizens UGX 300,000 per visitor. For the rest of the African visitors like South Africans, gorilla permits cost USD 500 per person.
Choose the destination to visit
Before you set off to trek gorillas, you should have an idea of where to go to track these apes. There are only two places where mountain gorillas can be explored in the wild: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park.
In Uganda, visitor choice for gorilla trekking revolves around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. These are the two premier destinations that guarantee you up close and personal encounter with a family of mountain gorillas in Uganda.
It is in the two parks (Bwindi and Mgahinga) where over half of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas all reside. Over 24 habituated gorilla groups are available for gorilla trekking in Uganda and the treks can be enjoyed in the five regions; Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga, Buhoma, and Ntebeko.
Bwindi National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in the Kigezi region and shared amongst three districts Kanungu, Kabale, and Kisoro.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park sits on an area of about 331 square kilometers bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on the western side and Rwanda in the south which takes about 460 km from Kampala city 8 hour’s drive.
As their name implies, Mountain Gorillas live in forests high in the mountains, at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet at an altitude of 1,190 to 2,607 meters above sea level.
Bwindi National Park currently has 23 gorilla families available for trekking which include Habinyanja, Mubare, Rushegura Katwe, Kyaguriro, Bitukura, Oruzoog Mukiza, Nkuringo, Bushaho, Christmas, Bweza, Nshongi, Mishaya, Busingye, Kahungye, Bikyingi, Mucunguzi, and kutu.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the southwestern corner of Uganda bordering Rwanda in the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the West. It is the smallest National Park which sits on an area of 33.7 km2 thus making it an easier to explore destination.
Mgahinga is the best spot ever for golden monkey Park to trek the rare primate species which are over 4000 golden monkeys in the jungle and best place for gorilla trekking.
Mgahinga Gorilla trekking is mainly found in the mid vegetation on the Virunga volcanoes of Mt Muhabura especially in the open areas of the bamboo zone with only one gorilla family called the Nyakagezi gorilla family.
Choose the right accommodation
A gorilla tour or trekking won’t be conducted without you securing a place to stay. In each of the two parks, there are luxury, midrange and budget lodges distributed across the five sectors where gorilla treks are conducted.
Booking accommodation should be done in advance before the actual date of traveling to your destination. The gorilla safari lodges to book include Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Gorilla Heights, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Engagi Lodge, and more.
Know the best time for gorilla trekking in Uganda
Knowing the best time to go for gorilla trekking is essential. Gorilla trekking in Uganda is best conducted during the dry season; June to September and December to February.
You May Also Need to Know
How do I prepare for gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Conduct thorough exercises to make you fit enough and ready for your gorilla trek. In addition to exercises, you also need to consider packing the right gear. The essential items to have include waterproof hiking boots, a waterproof daypack, a camera free of a flashlight, toiletries, rain jackets, long-sleeved shirts, a first aid kit, a sweater, etc.
A pack of energy-giving snacks and bottled drinking water should be considered as part of your preparation stages for gorilla trekking in Uganda.
How difficult is gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Gorilla trekking in Uganda involves a long day’s search for gorillas. The length of the trek is generally unpredictable and just requires you to be fit enough.
What do you wear to gorilla trekking in Uganda?
Things to wear to gorilla trekking include long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, a rain jacket, waterproof hiking boots, a safari hat, and many others.